VANCOUVER — It has been almost six months since Saskatoon rockers the Sheepdogs won the contest that landed them the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, which led to playing Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, touring incessantly, and opening for Kings of Leon.

The shaggy rockers are currently taking a bit of a break to work on their full-length debut album, which should be released in June on Atlantic Records.

Meanwhile, the Sheepdogs will be playing one of Canada’s Official Super Bowl XLVI Parties at the Commodore Ballroom Sunday, an event that will also feature the Seattle Seahawks cherleaders, retired NFL running back Marcus Allen and Oakland Raiders wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

The Vancouver Sun caught up with lead singer Ewan Currie to throw the ball around a bit and discuss football, the Sheepdogs and Madonna.

Q: How does it feel to be performing at a Super Bowl party?

A: I’m a big football fan. I can’t be at the game, so I like to be somewhere where there’s a lot of excitement about the game and I can watch it.

Q: Are you rooting for anybody in particular?

A: Not overly. I’m a Raiders fan. I mean, I really admire the Patriots. [Coach Bill] Belichick is an evil genius and I enjoy that, but I don’t really particularly care.

Q: It’s been six months since the Rolling Stone cover story. Are you still reeling and hungover?

A: We haven’t had a lot of time to catch our breath. Our last show of 2011 was at the Commodore, then we had our Christmas break and in January we went down to Nashville to record. There wasn’t a lot of time to chill out. But February will be a good month to catch our breath and hang out in Saskatoon before we get back on the road.

Q: Is Saskatoon still home?

A: It is. I mean, I don’t have a home. I’m staying in my childhood home my mom still lives in. We’re on the road so much there’s no point in keeping up a residence we won’t be able to enjoy.

Q: You’re in Vancouver a lot, though. Would you ever consider moving here?

A: I’d consider it. I mean, I lived there for a year in 1995. I enjoy going out there. It’s got a lot of things I like in a city. I definitely consider myself a West Coast type of dude.

Q: How is the new album shaping up? Do you have a title for it?

A: It’s all tracked. It just needs to be mixed and that’s going to happen in March. This is our first big step forward on [Atlantic Records]. We are throwing around some title ideas. Top secret discussions. Throwing darts at a board.

Q: Who puts on a better football gig: The Sheepdogs or Madonna?

A: Well, when you think about football, it’s beer-drinking, rock music, pumped up excitement. It’s not the queen of pop dancing around doing Papa Don’t Preach. I think without a question I want the rock ‘n’ roll band.

Q: How long will it take before you guys play the Super Bowl halftime show then?

A: Well, I think we have to start with the Grey Cup, right? In a couple of years it’s going to be in Regina, so we’re setting our sights on that one. So Grey Cup people, get at me.

fmarchand@vancouversun.com

Blog: vancouversun.com/awesomesound

twitter.com/FMarchandVS

Original source article: The Sheepdogs a better Super Bowl fit than Madonna? (With video)